The Bloody Long Walk 2025: 35km Challenge to Cure Mito

Sydney doesn’t hand out easy wins, and The Bloody Long Walk proves it. Thirty-five kilometres of coastline that swings from rugged Malabar headlands to Bondi’s golden curve, then drags you through the city’s most iconic postcards — Opera House, Botanic Gardens, Harbour Bridge finale. It’s not for the faint of quads, but that’s the point. This is sweat with substance: a full-day grind to raise cash for mitochondrial disease research.

You’ll share checkpoints with strangers-turned-teammates, trade jokes with volunteers, and earn a medal that actually means something. And while Sydney is the headliner, know this: the movement marches nationwide with equally bloody long adventures in Adelaide, the Mornington Peninsula, and Perth.

Video Credit: The Bloody Long Walk - Sydney East, 35kms

Location

Start Address: Pioneers Park, 1160–1196R Anzac Parade, Malabar NSW 2036
Finish Address: Hickson Road Reserve, Sydney NSW
State: New South Wales

Dates

Next Event (Sydney East):
Sunday, 16 November 2025
— Walk, jog or run
— Bib collection 6:00am
— Wave times from 6:30am
— Start Address: Pioneers Park Malabar
— Finish Address: HIckson Road Reserve, Sydney (35kms)
— Volunteer - Join their bloody awesome team of volunteers and help make a big difference on event day.
— Donate or Sponsor Every dollar you give will help find treatments and a cure for mitochondrial disease.

Other Events 2025:

Perth: 14 September 2025 - from St James Mitchell Park to South Perth
Mornington Peninsula: 19 October 2025 - from Quarantine Station to Point Nepean National Park
Adelaide: 26 October 2025 - from Carrick Hill House to Glenelg Beach

To register in any state click on this link: thebloodylongwalk.com.au

Photo Credit: The Bloody Long Walk / Mito Foundation

Price

Early Bird: $95 + $4.57 fees (Save $45)
Standard: Check event website for current pricing
Availability: Online registration essential

The BioHax Take

Sydney doesn’t do anything by halves — and neither does this event. Expect 35km of coastline that’ll chew your calves and feed your soul: Coogee and Bondi as your backdrops, the Opera House and Botanic Gardens cheering you on, and the Harbour Bridge looming like a finish-line guardian. It’s sweaty, salty, social, and bloody unforgettable. This isn’t just endurance; it’s endurance with meaning.

Meet Noah — The Heart of the Walk

Every epic needs a hero. For The Bloody Long Walk, his name is Noah. Born at just 29 weeks, his early years were a blur of hospital wards, diagnoses that didn’t stick, and doctors who quietly gave up. But Noah didn’t. At eight years old, the real answer finally arrived: mitochondrial disease.

Now 14, he wheels through life in his trusty chair — nicknamed Bumblebee — with more spirit than most marathon runners. He’s the Captain of the Mito Movement, the 2023 Moorabool Young Citizen of the Year, and the kind of kid who drops lines like, “I want to be a leader who represents diversity and disability and to change the world for people like me.”

Noah isn’t defined by mito. He’s defined by joy. His words? “I choose to be happy.” And that’s why thousands of strangers will show up in Sydney this November, pushing through 35km of coastline burn — because a life powered by optimism shouldn’t be cut short by a lack of cellular energy.

Every step, every blister, every checkpoint snack is fuel for Noah and the mito community. When you cross that finish line under the Harbour Bridge, medal around your neck, you’ll know it’s not just about endurance — it’s about giving kids like Noah more time, more energy, more life.

Noah’s Story – The RCH Foundation (Facebook Video)

Photo Credit: The Bloody Long Walk / Mito Foundation

What’s On Offer

35km coastal punishment: A full day of sweat, laughter, and questionable playlists.
Scenic porn: Malabar cliffs, Coogee surf, Bondi chaos, Opera House smugness, and a Harbour Bridge mic-drop finish.
Team hustle: Sign up solo or roll in with colleagues and turn shin splints into “corporate wellness.”
Volunteer crew: Bloody legends with high-fives, water refills, and energy to spare.
Fundraising prizes worth the sweat:
- First donation = Star status cap — because every hero deserves a hat.
- Raise $200 = Champion status bottle — a 500ml metal sidekick.
- Raise $350 = Hero tee — collect it at the finish and wear it smugly.
- Raise $1,000 = Bloody Legend VIP — free entry to a 2026 event, VIP check-in, and Noah’s book.
- Raise $2,000 = Megastar backpack — because every saga needs a battle pack.

Photo Credit: The Bloody Long Walk / Mito Foundation

Course Map — 35km of Bloody Scenic Glory

This isn’t just a walk, it’s a moving postcard of Sydney’s greatest hits. From Malabar’s headlands to the Opera House glow, you’ll clock 35km of coastline, harbour bends, and city swagger.

Start: Pioneers Park, Malabar
Finish: Hickson Road Reserve, Sydney (right under the Harbour Bridge)
Checkpoints: Coogee SLSC, North Bondi SLSC, Christison Park, Parsley Bay, Lyne Park, Rushcutters Bay — each one a lifeline of snacks, water, and high-fives.
Scenic highlights:
- Coogee and Bondi surf breaks
- City skyline reveals around every corner
- Opera House + Botanic Gardens before the final Harbour Bridge sprint
Support: Fully loaded course with toilets, medical, and refreshments mapped the whole way.

Map it, plan it, obsess over it. Then come test your calves against it.

Course Map Credit: The Bloody Long Walk / Mito Foundation

Sustainability Snapshot

Local volunteers powering event logistics
Reduced single-use plastics along the course
Community fundraising directly invested into medical research
Promoting active transport and public transit for participants

Frequently Asked Questions

I need help with my registration
If the form’s giving you grief, drop a line to bloodylongwalk@mito.org.au. The hotline runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — because even superheroes need office hours.

How old do you have to be to enter?
Solo striders must be 16+. It’s a bloody long 35km, and we want you to have the stamina (and sense) to finish. Under-16s are welcome, but they’ll need an adult shadowing them the whole way.

What is my wave time?
Pick your wave when you register — just make sure your team all picks the same one. Your confirmed wave time shows up on your dashboard and lands on your eTicket the Wednesday before the event. Stick to it: safety caps mean we can’t have half of Sydney on the track at once.

How do I create a team and invite friends to join it?
Simple. Choose a team name during registration, punch in your mates’ emails, and they’ll each get a nudge to join. One form, one click, instant crew.

How much do I need to raise?
Aim high — $350 is the sweet spot (about $10 per kilometre). The rego fee covers logistics, but fundraising keeps the Mito Foundation fighting. Every extra dollar is a bloody good deed.

How much of the money raised will go to the Mito Foundation?
All of it. The Bloody Long Walk is run by the Mito Foundation, so 100% of profits go back into research, support, and advocacy. No middlemen, no detours.

Where do I collect my hat, T-shirt and drink bottle?
Check-in tents at the start for your hat and bottle. Smash the $350 fundraising milestone and your t-shirt will be waiting for you at the finish line. Don’t skip pick-up day — nothing gets mailed.

Can I change my wave time after completing my registration?
Email bloodylongwalk@mito.org.au and ask nicely. They’ll try to help, but spots are capped and swaps aren’t guaranteed.

What if I register and then become injured, or can’t make it?
The terms and conditions cover this. Long story short: no refunds for change of mind. Full policy lives on the website if you need the fine print.

How do I get my e-ticket?
We’ll send it to the email you registered with on the Wednesday before the walk.

Where do I collect my bib?
Same place as check-in, next to the start. Bring your eTicket (digital copy works fine). Your bib has timing tech, so wear it front and centre.

How do I get to the event?
Parking’s slim. Best bet is a drop-off or grab one of our shuttle buses.

Where are the shuttle bus pick-up locations?
Central Station — Chalmers St outside Prince Alfred Pool, Surry Hills
Circular Quay — Alfred St, Stand A

How long is the course?
Roughly 35km. Each city varies slightly, but your legs won’t notice the decimals.

What is along the course?
Checkpoints every 3.5–7km. Expect water, sunscreen, fruit, loos, medics, and a cheer squad of volunteers.

How long will the walk take?
Most mortals clock in at 7–8 hours.

What if it rains on the day of the event?
Then you get wet. The event runs rain or shine — no weather-related refunds.

What do I need to bring with me on the day?

Sun hat / Bloody Long Walk cap
T-shirt (fundraise $350 and score the official one at the finish)
Shorts or leggings, comfy shoes you’ve broken in
Sunscreen, waterproof jacket (if the forecast looks ugly)
Your own drink bottle (free exclusive one if you fundraise $200)
Snacks, spare socks, mini first-aid kit

What can I expect at the start?
Toilets, water, check-in desks, meeting points, sponsor stalls — everything you need to get moving.

Are there safety guidelines for the day?
Yes. You’ll get a full safety briefing a few days out. Emergency help is on hand (call Event HQ at 0414 676 753), and in a real emergency, dial 000.

Will medical support be available along the course?
Absolutely. Every checkpoint has staff ready to help. Feeling crook? See a medic, tell a volunteer, or call it in. Emergencies = 000.

Is there an option to leave and collect clothing?
Nope. There’s no storage, so carry what you need.

Can I bring my dog?
Only certified assistance dogs with ID are allowed. Furry cheerleaders have to stay home.

Will I get a finisher’s medal?
Not this time. We keep costs lean so the bulk of funds go to mito research. But you’ll finish with something shinier than a medal: the knowledge you actually made a difference.

Still stuck?
Email bloodylongwalk@mito.org.au or call (02) 5700 0303 between 9am–12noon Tues, Weds or Fri.